MHS Volleyball Team Ends Season with Best Record in Seven Years

The Lady Bulldogs volleyball team ended their year in Region 1A postseason action against Roncalli on Thursday November 2.  Six seniors — Kaitlyn Huber, Abigail Pillatzki, Shaylee Schuchard, Rachel Schulte, Skyler Skoog, and Hailey Zinter — played the last game of their high school careers. They were assisted by senior student managers — Madisyn Brandenburger, Cailey Sime, and Sophia Whitlow. Each of the three managers had been with the team for the past three years.

“I’m quite proud of the season that we put together, finishing with a 20-11 record,” stated Nancy Hoeke head coach for Milbank. “Last year we put together the best record in six years, and this year we improved on it by one more win. My goal was to have a .500 record and we got to .645.”

Milbank needed a victory to continue on in regional play, but the Lady Cavaliers claimed the win 3-0. Set scores were 18-25, 14-25, and 19-25.

“Roncalli is a tough team to go against. It’s hard to put the ball away on them. They also serve tough and make the defense scramble,” Hoeke commented.

The Lady Bulldogs made 48 of 53 serving with one ace for an average of 91 percent. Siera Wenzl led the way by going 11 of 11.  Ella Sandvig went eight of eight.; Shaylee Schuchard, six of six; and Skyler Skoog, nine of 10. Addisyn Krause hit eight of 10 and recorded Milbank’s only ace. Rachel Schulte counted six of eight. 

Schulte led the attack with eight kills and eight assists. Krause added 12 assists. Schuchard and Skoog each made six kills. Isabella Anderson added two kills and Claire Snaza contributed one.

Skoog and Sandvig each posted 13 digs. Krause made nine; Schulte, eight; Wenzl, five; and Anderson, three. Snaza added two assisted blocks. Krause and Skoog chalked up one assisted block apiece.

The SDHSAA will host South Dakota’s State AA, A, and B volleyball tournaments Thursday through Saturday, November 16-18, at the Monument in Rapid City.